This spring, Georgia Tech marked an exciting milestone for its global learning initiatives: the graduation of the first cohort of students who began their college journey through the First-Year Semester Abroad (FYSA) program.
Launched in 2021, FYSA offers incoming first-year students the opportunity to spend their fall semester abroad at the start of their college career. Students begin with a short summer session in Atlanta before heading to one of two destinations: FYSA @ GTE, at Georgia Tech-Europe in Metz, France, or FYSA @ Oxford, based at a college of the University of Oxford in England with additional travel across Europe. They return to the Atlanta campus for spring semester, continuing their studies with a strong foundation in independence and global awareness.
FYSA cohorts on their journey abroad each fall semester.
This year’s graduating group included 20 students from the 2021 and 2022 FYSA cohorts, most of whom participated in FYSA @ GTE. The milestone was celebrated with a luncheon hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Education & Student Success and the Office of International Education, the two units that jointly house the program. Several current FYSA students also attended to connect with and celebrate the graduating class.
“It’s hard to believe it’s already been four years since the launch of FYSA,” said Elizabeth Reese, program and operations manager. “Knowing that these students have grown from curious first years into confident, globally minded graduates has been incredibly rewarding.”
FYSA is designed to integrate global learning into the undergraduate experience from the very beginning. All courses are Georgia Tech classes taught in English, and each program site is capped at no more than 50 students to ensure close interaction with faculty and peers. The program emphasizes experiential learning, independence, and community — qualities that often carry over into students’ campus engagement once they return to Atlanta.
and celebrate the graduating class.
Many FYSA students go on to study abroad again, take part in undergraduate research, or serve as mentors for newer FYSA participants. The program has become a launchpad for students eager to distinguish themselves early in their Georgia Tech careers.
As the first cohort prepares to take their next steps beyond Georgia Tech, the FYSA team and campus partners are already looking ahead to welcoming the next generation of students into the program.
To learn more about the FYSA program, visit the website.